292 



PLANTS AND MAN 



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before the new leaves appear in the spring. The other two, the 

 SHINGLE and WATER OAKS, are mostly small to medium sized 

 deciduous trees. 



The only western red oak of importance as a timber tree is the 

 California black oak which is found along the coast and ex- 

 tending over the west slopes of the Cascade and Sierra ranges in 

 Oregon and California. It is usually a medium sized tree, al- 

 though it may reach heights of one hundred feet on the best soils. 

 Also belonging to this group, though of little economic impor- 

 tance, are the west coast live oaks. 



The Elms 



The ELMS (Ulmus) are represented by six native species, all of 

 which have alternate, mostly elliptical, double toothed, short 



stalked leaves, the twigs in some 

 species covered with cork (fig. 209). 

 There are no true terminal buds, and 

 the lateral buds are covered with 

 numerous overlapping scales. The 

 small, inconspicuous flowers appear 

 before the leaves unfold, and the fruit 

 is a flattened, oblong or round single 

 seed, surrounded by a thin papery 

 wing. 



This genus includes three species 

 which are of interest because of their 

 usefulness to man. Their woods are all 

 much the same as regards properties 

 and uses, being very hard, tough, 

 difficult to split, coarse-grained, with 

 brown heartwood and light colored 

 sap wood. Pernaps the most important, at least the best known, is 

 the American, or w^hite elm whose range extends from New- 

 foundland to Florida and westward to Texas and Saskatchewan. 

 Its broad, spreading, vase-shaped crown when grown in the 

 open, makes it easier to identify from a distance than any other 

 North American tree (fig. 210). It is a large tree, and height 

 measurements up to one hundred twenty feet have been re- 



FiG. 209.— Elms have el- 

 liptical toothed leaves and 

 winged fruits. 



